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Sources of Oil Imports Fun facts to remember: China still produces most of its own oil, and is exploring offshore for more China passed the U.S. as the worlds largest net importer in May of this year at 6.12 Mbb/d; this has as much to do with decreases in US imports as as it does with increases in Chinas Total: M bbl/dayTotal: M bbl/day

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The biggest one: Sanxia Why they built it National Pride Hydro Power Flood Control Navigation In January 2000, a senior Chinese official in Kunming expressed to me what I believe to be a deeply rooted conviction in China: We are sensitive to considerations of the environment and the importance of the conservation of nature, but we must have power; coal is dirty, water clean and abundant,a rich and unused resource; we have no alternative. In all other sectors of Chinas economy Maoism has been displaced by market principles,but not in the hydro-sector. Gavan McCormack, Water Margins: competing paradigms in China, 2001

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Problems: Relocation Quality of the land available New ecotechnical adaptation Lack of education for urban life Dialect differences Insufficient Corruption and official indifference funds

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Problems: Sedimentation changes since 2003

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Sedimentation changes since 2003 More is building up behind the dam (max depth 56m) Downstream reaches have changed from deposition to erosion The Yangtze delta has gone from expansion to contraction

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Landslides

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Problems: Biodiversity Loss

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There are still more dams…. Nu (Salween) River Lancang (Mekong) River UPDATE

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Lancang Projects

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Nu River Projects

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Lack of electricity in rural areas Frequent blackouts Increased reliance on coal Possible belligerence over oil Problems Caused by Energy Shortages in China What are the Environmental Costs of More Dams? You be the judge: Vs. Deprivation of Downstream peoples Loss of Biodiversity Loss of Scenic Beauty All the problems of relocation Possible disasters

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What Needs to be Done? Develop long-term sustainable energy strategy, including incentives for clean and renewable sources Increase funding for environmental regulation Develop price structure for resources that will promote conservation Make environmental protection a primary element of cadre evaluations Allow citizen groups to form and lobby for environmental reform